This role pays more than
73%
of similar roles. Most pay
$174,600–$235,750
— the shaded band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$231k
versus about
$205k
for comparable roles.
Based on 240 similar postings.
Employer
About Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is a global technology leader producing software, hardware, and cloud services including Windows, Office 365, Azure cloud platform, Xbox gaming, and Surface devices. Industry: Software & Cloud Computing
Microsoft currently has
598 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$119,800–$234,700
across 586 roles with salary data.
As a Principal Software Engineer on the Compute Graph Compiler (CGC) team within DirectX, you will define the technical vision, architecture, and roadmap for the Windows ML compiler stack. You will lead cross-team initiatives to improve AI workload performance across CPU, GPU, and NPU hardware while driving NPU enablement strategies and advanced optimization techniques. Your daily work involves designing high-performance compiler infrastructure, execution engines, and developer tooling while solving complex systems challenges in scheduling, memory management, code generation, graph optimization, and hardware abstraction. You will utilize programming languages such as C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python to build tools for the Windows Machine Learning Platform. This role focuses on the core compiler infrastructure and execution engines required to power computer vision, audio, video, gaming, and generative AI workloads across various silicon partners.
What does a Software Engineer earn?
Median $197500 from 2196 postings across 133 companies.
Define and drive the technical vision, architecture, and roadmap for the Windows ML compiler stack.
Lead cross-team initiatives to improve AI workload performance across CPU, GPU, and NPU hardware.
Drive NPU enablement strategies and advanced optimization techniques for next-generation AI processors.
Partner with hardware vendors and internal teams to influence future AI hardware and software capabilities.
Design and develop high-performance compiler infrastructure, execution engines, and developer tooling.
Solve complex systems challenges involving scheduling, memory management, code generation, and graph optimization.
Mentor engineers across various experience levels and provide technical leadership across multiple projects.
Shape Microsoft's long-term strategy for on-device and generative AI execution on Windows.
What we're looking for
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field and 8+ years of technical engineering experience in languages like C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
Master's Degree and 12+ years of experience, or a Bachelor's Degree and 15+ years of experience in coding and technical engineering.
Ability to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check every two years.
At least 6 years of experience working at low levels of software stack, device driver development, or hardware/software integration.
At least 10 years of experience delivering world-class system software.
Deep knowledge and hands-on experience in ML compiler, tool, and platform technology.
In-depth experience in operating system development in either user-mode or kernel-mode driver development.
Proven track record of technical leadership in AI platforms, framework technology, or ML hardware microarchitecture.
C++
MLIR
LLVM
Compiler Development
Machine Learning
Operator Fusion
Memory Planning
Scheduling
AI Accelerators
Model Compilation
Code Optimization
Software Infrastructure
Python
C++
C#
Java
JavaScript
C
Distributed Systems
Machine Learning
Generative AI
Recommendation Systems
AI Agents
Model Training
Inference Optimization
Observability
Backend Services
Azure
Python
C++
C#
Java
JavaScript
C
Machine Learning
Distributed Systems
CI/CD
DevOps
Azure OpenAI
Azure ML
Azure AI Studio
Software Architecture
SDLC
Telemetry